#2 The New England Patriots

This was one of the few teams I chalked in as an auto-loss for everyone else without thinking. Mostly because Tom Brady is back, but this time I want to point out that the secondary that you Pats fans are used to...is gone.

Mayo and Thomas are great LB's and Welker and Moss will do their jobs, but what about the rest of the team? How will the adjustment to the 3 - 4 treat them sans Seymour? Bruschi is gone too. It'll be a great season for the Pats but maybe not as good as everyone expects...

1	Sep 14	BUF @ NE	Gillette Stadium	7:00 PM	ESPN
2	Sep 20	NE @ NYJ	Giants Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
3	Sep 27	ATL @ NE	Gillette Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
4	Oct 04	BAL @ NE	Gillette Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
5	Oct 11	NE @ DEN	Invesco Field at Mile High	4:15 PM	CBS
6	Oct 18	TEN @ NE	Gillette Stadium	4:15 PM	CBS
7	Oct 25	NE @ TB	Wembley Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
8	Bye
9	Nov 08	MIA @ NE	Gillette Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
10	Nov 15	NE @ IND	Lucas Oil Stadium	8:20 PM	NBC
11	Nov 22	NYJ @ NE	Gillette Stadium	4:15 PM	CBS
12	Nov 30	NE @ NO	Superdome	8:30 PM	ESPN
13	Dec 06	NE @ MIA	Land Shark Stadium	8:20 PM	NBC
14	Dec 13	CAR @ NE	Gillette Stadium	1:00 PM	FOX
15	Dec 20	NE @ BUF	Ralph Wilson Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
16	Dec 27	JAC @ NE	Gillette Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS
17	Jan 03	NE @ HOU	Reliant Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS

Teams who can realistically beat the Pats:

Atlanta, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Houston, Carolina.

Why? They have a great passing game with a decent running game (except Atlanta, who has a great running game). I think NE overmatches the Titans.

So let's put the Pats at 11 - 5 because of the massive defensive holes. If one guy can pull this off, it's Bill.

- Dave